| Author | Message | ||
     Jersey_thunder |
I'm just curious...i think they're both great machines. JT | ||
| Lake_bueller |
It's like comparing apples to oranges (IMO). Having never owned (but I have ridden) the S2, my take may be skewd. But here's my take on S2 v. S1.... S2: Sleek & elegant Comfortable (for the most part) S1: Mean & lean Not for the meek to ride more than a few miles (especially with the race bars & rearsets) I think if I ever sell my S3T, I may look for an S2. But I'd still rather have an RS or RSS. | ||
| Road_thing |
JT: You're right, they're both great machines. I own one of each, and I agree with Lake's comments above. I would add that the S1 has lighter flywheels and, I believe, hotter cams that give it a quicker throttle response. My S2 feels like a longer bike than the S1. Where the S1 steers very quickly, almost "twitchy" sometimes, the S2 feels more stable, like it has more rake or a longer wheelbase. I don't know offhand if the chassis geometry is the same, but they feel different to me. rt | ||
| Rick_a |
S2 is more like a sport-tourer than sporting machine. The S1 is a raw, minimalist streetfighter. No comparison. | ||
| Easy_rider |
Which begs the question, what is a streetfighter, anyway? In my mind it conjurs up street light to street light races. When the design is based on superior handling there's an inconsistency there. | ||
| Mikej |
To me a streetfight is a brawl, a bar fight, happenstance, come what may and run what ya brung, usually in town, or tight roads, rarely wide open high speed, more akin to Cafe to Cafe spurts, light to light, sign to sign, rarely if ever hit top gear unless one is balls to the walls bonkers and tends to jump alleys at night without regard to streets and traffic and such, hooliganism at it's best and at it's worst, rules are in the book at home on the shelf, daylight signals an end, bed before dawn, breakfast at noon, dinner on the run, lunch is not a concern, no bits left to bust or chop or fall off the bikes, use what's laying around to keep it going, bailing wire for shoelaces, pliers and 6" Vice Grips in a rear pocket, decency be damned, "what is a streetfighter anyway?" - I have no idea (and I was somewhere else at the time that whatever happened happened). What was the question? | ||
| Ryker77 |
I rode an S1w from the great lakes to Atlanta in one day. I'd say it was just as comfortable as needed. It was about a 12hr ride and I can't even remember Kentucky other than the speedo stayed at three digits! Never riden an S2. To me an s1w all white machine is the best looking bike ever. Smooth and curvy just like a sexy woman! | ||
| Mikej |
Streetfighters the morning after: http://www.altrocker.de/galerie/page2/halb_tot_big.jpg Found here: http://www.altrocker.de/galerie2.html Okay, enough meandering, back to the topic at hand.... The S2 can stretch it's legs better over distances, the S1 can cut the corners better, but either can do either very well in either case dependant upon the rider. | ||
| Denfromphilly |
A hooligan bike or a streetfighter or whatever you want to call it has one property that no one has mentioned. It makes you behave badly, it has so much temptation built into it that you just have to pull that little wheelie here and there, try to burn out every little puddle, wind it up to 115, pass slow old ladies with the throttle blaring etc. It's jailbait, it'll get you in trouble, if you have enough self control to ride it legally you would not be the type of person inclined to keep it. It has a bad attitude. It dares you to thrash the shlit out of it. I drive an SUV usually like a milktoast wussy. Not too fast, never take chances. I get on my X1 and spin gravel as I leave the driveway. Rev the motor in underpasses for the neat sound, do wheelies in the parking lot at work, have no patience for other drivers or traffic. A hooligan or streetfighter bike changes the riders, it expresses a repressed part of our basic nature. Puts us in touch with a primal feeling we don't get to feel very much in the civilized and law abiding world. It makes me feel more like a predator and less like prey. Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. | ||
| Rick_a |
I rode my S1 from Western NY to Central FL in 3 days. It was a 1500 mile trip. The first couple days were smooth going. The last day was pure torture. I needed a couple days to fully recuperate. I've been making great friends in my apartment complex. In one day, I did a wheelie then a stoppie in front of the office personel as they were leaving, and later did a wheelie behind who I believe was an off-duty cop that lives there. He pulled off to the side of the road and pulled out a note pad. I don't know why anyone else would do that. My plate is hard to see anyway so I hauled ••• past him and slipped into a side lot. I made sure to circle around the lot until he went past. All in a good days fun. This bike is too much fun sometimes. | ||
| Rick_a |
Oh yeah, my bike has low clip-ons below the top triple clamp, too. Makes touring a bit more physical. | ||
| Chasespeed |
A hooligan or streetfighter bike changes the riders, it expresses a repressed part of our basic nature. Puts us in touch with a primal feeling we don't get to feel very much in the civilized and law abiding world. It makes me feel more like a predator and less like prey. Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. See, I CANT blame the bike..as these are things I do anyway. My X1 suits my personality...though I think the S1 does more so..but hey... Anyway, its more an extension of my attitude problem, and it doestn cry, or pretest when I kick teh ever living sh*t outta it... In short, Buells are the most fun I have had on 2 wheels without havign to go to a track... Chase} | ||
| Timbo |
"Tell you what though, I have a few bikes to choose from and I ride damn near every day, and for some reason almost every morning I find myself gravitating toward that S2. I don't know exactly why, either. It's not the fastest bike I own by a mile, doesn't have the best brakes, doesn't wheelie or stoppie all that well, not much lean angle, etc etc. But somehow when I ride it I just feel like the bike is a part of me, like it can read my mind and I can read it's mind and we're just made for each other. I just really enjoy riding that bike. I can't imagine being without an S2." A friend of mine posted that a while back...it's funny, I can make the same statement, but with one difference. I seem to always grab the S1W. Dunno why, I just really like it. Different strokes for different folks. Timbo | ||
| Denfromphilly |
Ok, how many people rode to work this morning in the 30 degree weather? I did! The motor just loves to make HP in this weather. Thanks for the derby cover Seth! Den | ||
| Rick_a |
Mine's a pain in the @ss lately. Cold blooded as can be, but once warm, runs like a scalded cat. In the hot weather it is on the edge of detonation until in the upper revs. I should have her proper soon. | ||
| Kevyn |
I've been riding the S2 in mid to upper 30's and lower 40's...cold natured beast it is for sure! After about 15 minutes, it's rolling along just fine though. And ya, cold damp air seems to suit combustion well. The Duc however runs much better in cold weather. I did have to cover the oil cooler but once it's caught it's breath, it's all good! FI beats Mikuni hands down. Anything below the mid 30's at night is just too cold for me personally. When I'm done with work, I'm not looking forward to a cold weather survival on a motorcycle episode. I have an ancient 4-Runner that gets pressed into service at these moments... | ||
| Kevyn |
Oh ya, I've had an S1 and it was a pleasure to ride quickly out in the hills and back country and a real eye grabber around town. I did manage to ride it to Sturgis and was just not all that comfortable... ...the S2 on the other hand would be a natural for that trip! And just as much fun when the road starts twistin'! The S2 is just plain 'cush' compared to the S1 and with a bit of motor work would run just as quick. I personally like the way the S2 handles--a bit more deliberate and not as 'twitchy'. Being a bit older, my reaction times are a bit slower and the S2 suits my riding style better. The M2 is a nice compromise between the two; excellent handling, powerful torq'y motor with 'gentler' ergonomics. |
